BA/BA (Hons) Film and Media

You’ll learn practical production skills and have your critical thinking faculties sharpened to a fine point. This eclectic and inspiring course will give you the expertise to succeed in a variety of careers. It includes the chance to study abroad*.

The camera may never lie, but what about the person holding the camera? The film and media that we create and consume reflect our individual identities, our local and national cultures and the political players on the global stage. Our film and media degree will help you examine these topics using rigorous academic discipline and practical production techniques.

See the foot of the page for some student case studies/ staff profiles

Why QMU?

Learn from staff with international film-making experience. staff member Walid Salhab’s Kelpies film, for example, premièred in New York as part of Scotland Week.

Our BA/ BA (Hons) Film and Media offers a unique opportunity to study the forces which shape the media, and gives you the practical skills to make a difference.

See your work on the big screen – a selection of students’ films are screened annually at an end-of-year show at the Edinburgh Filmhouse.

About the course

The camera may never lie, but what about the person holding the camera? The film and media that we create and consume reflect our individual identities, our local and national cultures and the political players on the global stage. Our film and media degree will help you examine these topics using rigorous academic discipline and practical production techniques.

On this course you’ll study film as an artistic and commercial enterprise, as well as various media institutions and the debates surrounding them. You’ll engage in deep critical thinking about culture, media and society as a whole.

You will also develop real-world technical skills in video and media production, teamwork, academic research, project management and a variety of forms of communication. Modules in the first two years will introduce you to key developments in film and media, and key concepts in film and media studies, including the emergence of cinema and the establishment of national broadcasting systems, and concepts like narrative, popular culture and citizenship.

In Years Three and Four you choose specialist film and media options in, for example, television drama, screenwriting, and photography. In Year Four you complete a written or production dissertation. Production dissertations can be in video, photography or screenwriting. You can choose a group production dissertation which adds another dimension if you want to specialise in a particular production role such as director, writer or editor.

Structure

You can opt to study for an honours degree over four years or an ordinary degree over three years. You will complete a range of modules each year as outlined.

Video Production/ Screenwriting/ Playwriting/ Playwriting 2/ Creative Entrepreneurship/ Photography and Visual Culture/ Television Drama/ Film and the Family/ Storytelling in Convergent Media/ The American West in Popular Culture/ Video Essay/ Scotland on Screen/ Film Festivals/ Problematic: Criticism, Culture and Social Justice/ The Only Way is Ethics: Art, Participation and Ethics/ Communication, Arts and Activism/ Journalism and Global Change

The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2019) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2020. Please check the website for any updates.

Please note that exchange opportunities are subject to availability. In addition, please note that where exchange opportunities are arranged in the EU, Erasmus+ funding is available subject to the UK remaining in the Erasmus+ scheme.

Careers

You’ll graduate as a critical maker and consumer of media. You’ll be technically confident in the field, with rounded practical skills, and raring to succeed in the career of your choice. Our graduates are making names for themselves in film and television production, media research, PhD and academic research, public relations, marketing, advertising, arts and cultural management. Employers including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Filmhouse, Channel 4 and the Leith Agency have snapped up their skills and attitude.

Entry requirements

Scottish Higher: Standard BBBB, Minimum BBCC

A Level: BCC

Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate: 28 points

International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5.

Required subjects: English, Media Studies, or Film Studies preferred at Higher/A level or equivalent. English required and Maths preferred at Nat 5/ GCSE.

Special Information for EU Applicants: Previously EU students have had the cost of their tuition fees met by the Scottish Government. At the point of publication there is no information on whether this arrangement will continue for students starting their studies in 20/21. Updates will be posted on the QMU website when available.

Engage with the Team

A Student Story - more at foot of page

Michael Grant - BA/BA (Hons) Film and Media
"The most interesting part of the course was the film production modules... The film department was a great resource and allowed us to gain a lot of experience making films out with our course work."
Read my story...